It’s Betfair Hurdle Day at Newbury, with a competitive field for the feature. Paul Nicholls holds strong cards in the two Graded races, and Festival hope Jonbon reappears at Warwick.
Newbury is the feature card on Saturday with two Grade Two’s and a competitive Betfair Hurdle feature, which shouldn’t provide any worries for Cheltenham favourites in the run up to the Festival.
2:25 – Denman Chase (Grade 2) – 2m 7F 86yds
This race has an illustrious winners roster, including Native River (winning it three times), Grade One-winning Clan Des Obeaux, Gold Cup champions; Long Run, Kauto Star, See More Business & Coneygree.
However this year’s renewal doesn’t quite live up to the expectations of delivering a Gold Cup winner, but could potentially look to the future.
Hitman heads the market at 7/4, after multiple places and a win at Haydock earlier in the season. He was pulled up in the King George VI Chase over Christmas, which casts doubt over the reliability of the favourite.
The ground has hardened in the past week, so horses that aren’t keen on a cut in the ground should be given a good chance.
In which case, the Kim-Bailey-trained Does He Know provides a good angle into the race, winning last time out on similar ground and goes well left-handed. Current price is around 7/1.
Zanza could run a good race at a big race at a big price, after winning here earlier in the season on good ground.
3:00 – Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) – 2m 92yds
Odds-on favoruite Greaneteen cannot be opposed for the Paul Nicholls team. A Grade One winner, he goes well on better ground, after winning the Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter in November.
Nicholls had his say on one of his bankers of the weekend; ‘We’ve always thought this was the perfect place to run him before Cheltenham. He’s nice and fresh so hopefully he’ll run very well en route to Cheltenham.’
A betting angle into the race could be the without-favourite market, in which Malystic could be the pick for Peter Niven.
Excusing the run at Cheltenham, Malystic form figures read well, rated at 149, and could take advantage of Funambule Sivola, who has looked disappointing this season.
3:35 – Betfair Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – 2m 69yds
A competitive renewal of this race, which was most notably won in 1968 by the great Persian War, who won the Champion Hurdle three times.
Since then, it’s been considered as a Champion Hurdle trial, but hasn’t produced one since 1968 and doesn’t look to this year.
Filey Bay is a strong favourite at 7/2, having notched up wins at Doncaster and Wincanton earlier in the season.
However, a nine-pound rise and a big step up in class, may prove to be a little too challenging, but looks well-handicapped in the weights for this race.
Nicholls holds a strong hand in the race, with Hacker Des Places, who won on Cheltenham Trials Day this year, and Rubaud, who finished behind Rare Edition who failed to win at Huntingdon on Thursday.
Willie Mullins has entered Icare Allen, who finished fourth in the Triumph Hurdle last year at Cheltenham, but has been raised too far in the weights to be considered.
Teddy Blue provides a decent each-way angle for an in form Gary Moore team, with a five pound rise for a recent win.
Restitution for Alan King provides a small money wager at a big price, with a decent win last time out, good record on good ground, but is stepping well out of grade for this race and looks a potential mismatch.
2:40 – Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) – 2m 54yds
Over at Warwick, Jonbon makes his reappearance in the Kingmaker Novices’ Chase, an Arkle trial which has provided a few Arkle winners, including Edwardstone last year.
Haddex Des Obeaux, for the Moore’s, looks to be best of the rest in the field, but looks more like a schooling session for the Arkle favourite.
Looks to be a competitive afternoon in the racing world, and best of luck with any bets you place!
Best bet: Does He Know – 2:25 Newbury
Next best: Malystic (W/O Greaneteen) – 3:00 Newbury
Oliver Holmes
